Apparatus for detaching the stems from fruit



y 1950 v. E. PINARD 2,506,889

APPARATUS FOR DETACHING THE STEMS FROM FRUIT Filed Feb. 12, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 TI JH I43 a I a- 30- MHHHIHI 2/] 3Zb ?W57 3-H 3- fig? EI 4 EIE E T 1 War) 5. /nard.

May 9, 1950 v. E. PINARD APPARATUS FOR DETACHING THE STEMS FROM FRUIT Filed Feb. 12, 1946 3 Sheeis-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Viv/an E. P/haro.

ATTORNEY.

May 9, 1950 v. E. PlNARD 2,506,889

APPARATUS FOR DETACHING THE STEMS FRQM FRUIT Filed Feb. 12, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet :s

INVENTOR. Viv/0n E. P/nord.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 9, 1950 APPARATUS FOR DETACHING THE STEMS FROM FRUIT Vivian E. Pinard, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Richmond-Chase Company, a corporation of California Application February 12, 1946, Serial No. 647,001

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of removing the stems from fruit.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial N 0. 538,831, filed June 5, 1944, and which became abandoned February 28, 1946.

One object of the invention is to provide a method for removing the stem which minimizes injury to the fruit.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for carrying out the method.

My invention is useful in detaching the stems from fruits of various kinds, such as grapes, cherries, currants and gooseberries. For purposes of disclosure I shall refer hereinafter specifically to the stemming of grapes, but I wish it understood that my invention is applicable to other fruit in substantially the same manner in which it is employed with grapes.

After the grapes have been separated from the bunches, some have the stems attached. Detaching these stems, especially the cap stems, is an operation difi'icult to perform mechanically.

The usual procedure is to pull the stem out of the grape by applying a force to the stem in the direction of the stem axis of the grape. The disadvantage of this method is that it results in removal of an undesirably large amount of pulp with the stem and in mutilation of the skin at the stem end. I have found that by employing my method of removing stems very little pulp adheres to the stem and. the stem leaves the grape without tearing or mutilating the skin.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 to are diagrammatic illustrations employed in connection with a description of the method.

Fig. 1 shows the grape from the front, Fig. 2 from the top, and Fig. 3 from the side.

Fig. 4 illustrates the damage done to the grape in removing the stem in the usual way.

Fig. 5 shows the improved result obtained by my method.

Figs. 6 to 8 show an apparatus for carrying out my method.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a partial end elevation and section taken on the line 1-'! in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the cam track with part broken away, the view being taken as indicated by the section line 8--8 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Fig. 7 illustrating a modified form of the invention.

The method will be described first by referring to Figs. 1 to 5. The grape I 0 is placed on a support which has an elongated slot II. The support may be provided, for example, by parallel bars I2, I 3. The grape is advanced longitudinally of the slot II by a feeding means I4 which is moved in the direction of the arrow I5 (Fig. 2). The feeding means may be in the form of a flexible curtain which may be made of fabric or rubber. As the grape is advanced longitudinally of the slot II, an oscillatory movement is imparted thereto by the feed means I4. This is effected by reciprocating the feed means I4 transversely of the slot I I as indicated by the double arrow I6.

I have found that by imparting to the grape the movement just described that, regardless of the position which the grape initially occupies, it will take up the position illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, that is, with the stem I'I projecting downwardly through the slot II and with the stem axis of the grape upright. This orientation or positioning of the grape will occur periodically during the movement of the grape along the bars I2 and I3. Thus the means I4, in being translated in the direction of the arrow I5 and reciprocated in the directions of the arrows I6, serves both as an orienting or positioning means and as a feed means. In order to detach the stem, I apply force to it in the direction indicated b the arrows I8, I9, that is, I move the stem back and forth transversely of the stem axis of the grape. This can be efiected, for example, by arranging a blade 20 beneath the supports I2, I3, which is suitably mounted on a member 2I which is oscillated. The blade 20 in moving from one dotted line position to the other (Fig. 1), bends the stem and works it loose in its socket without exerting any extracting or pulling force on the stem in the direction of the stem axis. The improved result is shown in Fig. 5. After the stem I! has been worked loose from the grape I 0, it drops away by gravity. In leaving the grape, only a few fibrous roots 22 adhere to the stem, leaving the grape substantially intact. Fig. 4 illustrates what occurs when the stem is removed from the grape by pulling it in the direction of the stem axis as indicated by the arrow 23. In addition to the fibers attached to the stem IT, a large amount of pulp 24 is also removed leaving a crater in the grape and also causing a tearing and mutilation of the skin as indicated, for example, at 25.

An apparatus for carrying out the method is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 and consists of a suitable framework 30 on which is supported a plurality of parallel bars 3| (Fig. 7) which are preferably bevelled as shown and spaced apart to form parallel slots 32. The grapes are introduced into the machine at 33 (Fig. 6) where they are carried onto the bars 3| by an endless series of feeding and positioning means 35, each of which comprises a transversely extending strip 35 (Figs. 6 and 7) of flexible material, such as rubber, attached at its upper edge to aholder 36. Each holder, as shown in Fig. 7, has a square pin 31 at one end and a similar pin 33 at the other end. The pins 31, 38 are slidable in square apertures in bearing blocks 39, it respectively. The bearing blocks 39 are connected together for movement in an endless path by suit-able means such as a cable GI, and similarly the blocks are are connected together by a cable 62. The bearing blocks are secured to the cables in equally spaced intervals to maintain the holders 36 parallel to each other and transversely of the slots 32. The bearing blocks 35, dd are guided and supported along the horizontal portion of their path of movement by channel tracks #53, M, respectively, which are attached to the framework 38. After leaving the track 43 the blocks 39 pass over three sheaves 45, 4G, 4'! (Fig. 6) to return to the other end of the track 4-3. Similar sheaves are provided on the other side of the framework for the blocks 20, one of which is shown at 48 in Fig. 7. The sheaves 45 and as are secured to a shaft 49 connected by a chain 59 and sprockets 52, to a shaft 53 which, as shown in Fig. 6, is driven from a motor 5G. In this manner the motor rotates the shaft G9 to cause movement of the endless series of feeding and positioning means 34 in the direction of the arrow 55 (Fig. 6).

Beneath each slot 32 and parallel thereto is a shaft 56 having an elongated blade or paddle 51 attached thereto. Each shaft 5'6 has a crank 5.8,, the pin 59 of which engages in a slot 60 of an actuating rack 6| supported for transverse sliding movement in a channel 62 and short end channels. 63, 64 secured to the framework. The rack 8i has a pin 65 engaging in a cam groove 66 formed in a wheel 6? attached to the shaft 53. Rotation of the shaft 53 results in reciprocation of the rack 6| and oscillation of the blades 5?.

The holders 36 in addition to being translated longitudinally of the bars 3| are reciprocated transversely thereof. For this purpose each of the holders 36 is provided with a roller 68 which engages in a stationary cam track 69 which is supported at its ends on the framework 30. The beginning of the cam track is funnel shaped as shown at iii in Fig. 8 in order to guide the pins 68 into the cam track proper.

In operation the grapes are deposited at 33 (Fig. 6') on an inclined table H from which they are removed by the feeding means 34 and carried onto the bars 3i. When the rollers 68 enter the cam track 69 the holders 3'6 are reciprocated as they move along above the bars 31. This causes the rubber strips to impart an oscillatory movement to the grapes in addition to a translatory feeding movement. As a result each grape takes up a position in which the stem projects down through a slot 32 where it is exposed to the action of an oscillating blade 5?. The bars 31 are of sufficient length, that each grape will be oriented properly at least once during its travel through the machine. The blade moves the stem back and forth until the stem works loose from the grape and falls by gravity into a hopper 12. Usually, one or two back and forth movements are sufficient to detach a stem, so that'this type of detaching movement is effective even with only momentary orientation ofa grape;

4 The stemmed grapes are transferred by the feeding means 34 from the bars 3| onto an inclined discharge shelf 13 for removal from the apparatus.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which the rubber strips 35a are provided with spaced vertical slits 35b extending upwardly from the bottom edge. In effect, the slitting provides a series of flexible fingers which can yield individually in progressing the grapes along the bars or tracks 3| to enhance the orienting action and to aid in removing the stems.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for detaching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots therebetween, the upper surfaces of adjacent bars being inclined downwardly toward the slot therebetween, movable fruit-engaging means supported in said frame above said bars, means for imparting movement to said fruit-engaging means in a direction parallel to said bars and for imparting movement to said fruit engaging means transversely of said bars, said combined movements imparted to said fruit-engaging means causing the fruit engaged thereby to be oriented with the stem axes vertical and the stem projecting downwardly through said slots, and stem-engaging means mounted in said frame beneath said bars for oscillation about an axis parallel to said bars.

2. An apparatus for detaching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots therebetween, the upper surfaces of adjacent bars being inclined downwardly toward the slot therebetween, mOvable fruit-engaging means supported in said frame above said bars comprising an endless series of holders each having flexible means attached thereto for engaging the fruit, means for moving said holders in a direction parallel to said bars when in proximity thereto and for simultaneously moving said holders transversely of said bars, and stem-engaging means mounted in said frame beneath said bars to effect detaching of the stems.

3.. An apparatus for detaching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots therebetween, means supported in said frame above said bars for engaging fruit supported on said bars and for advancing fruit along said bars with the stems projecting downwardly through said slots, a stem-engaging blade supported in said frame beneath each of said slots for oscillation about an axis parallel to said slot, and means for oscillating said blades including a common motion-transmitting member adapted to be reciprocated in said frame.

4. An apparatus for detaching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, a plurality of substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots therebetween, the upper surfaces of adjacent bars being inclined downwardly toward the slot therebetween, a feed table supported by saidframe at one end of said bars and a discharge chute supported by said frame at the other end of said bars, movable fruit engaging means supported in said frame above said bars comprising an endless series of members having flex ible means for engaging the fruit, said fruitengaging means being movable over said feed table to transfer fruit thereon to said bars and being movable parallel to said bars to advance the fruit therealong to the discharge end thereof, and means including a fixed cam track supported by said frame above said fruit engaging means for moving said members back and forth transversely of said bars during travel of said members over said bars.

5. An apparatus for detaching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots therebetween, movable fruit-engaging means supported in said frame above said bars, means for imparting movement to said fruit-engaging means in a direction parallel to said bars and for imparting back and forth movement to said fruit-engaging means transversely of said bars, said combined movement-s imparted to said fruitengaging means causing the fruit engaged thereby to be oriented with the stem axes vertical and the stems projecting downwardly through said slots, and stem-engaging means mounted in said frame beneath said bars to effect detaching of the stems.

6. An apparatus for detaching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots between adjacent substantially planar surfaces of said bars, the upper surfaces of adjacent bars being inclined downwardly toward the slot therebetween and being disposed to engage the fruit at the stem end thereof, movable fruit-engaging means supported in said frame above said bars, means for imparting movement to said fruit-engaging means in a direction parallel to said bars and for imparting back and forth movement to said fruit-engaging means transversely of said bars, said combined movements imparted to said fruit-engaging means causing the fruit engaged thereby to be oriented with the stem axes vertical and the stems projecting downwardly through said slots, and stem-engaging means mounted in said frame beneath said bars to effect detaching of the stems.

7. An apparatus for detaching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots therebetween, the upper surfaces of adjacent bars being inclined downwardly toward the slot therebetween, movable fruit-engaging means supported in said frame above said bars comprising an endless series of holders each having vertically slitted flexible means attached thereto for engaging the fruit, means for moving said holders in a direction parallel to said bars when in proximity thereto and for simultaneously moving said 8 holders transversely of said bars, and stem-engaging means mounted in said frame beneath said bars to effect detaching of the stems.

8. An apparatus for detaching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots therebetween, the upper surfaces of adjacent bars being inclined downwardly toward the slot therebetween, movable fruit-engaging means supported in said frame above said bars comprising an endless series of holders each having flexible fingers attached thereto for engaging the fruit, means for moving said holders in a direction parallel to said bars when in proximity thereto and for simultaneously moving said holders transversely of said bars, and stem-engaging means mounted in said frame beneath said bars to effect detaching of the stems.

9. An apparatus for de5aching the stems from fruits comprising a frame, substantially horizontal bars secured to said frame in parallel spaced apart relation to provide longitudinal slots therebetween, the upper surfaces of adjacent bars being inclined downwardly toward the slot therebetween, movable fruit-engaging means supported in said frame above said bars comprising an endless series of holders each having flexible means attached thereto for engaging the fruit, means for moving said holders in a direction parallel to said bars when in proximity thereto and for simultaneously moving said holders transversely of said bars, stem-engaging means mounted in said frame beneath said bars to effect detaching of the stems, and means for effecting back and forth movement of said stem-engaging means to provide a series of impacts to the stems of the fruit.

VIVIAN E. PINARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 883,708 Fontana Apr. 7, 1908 1,029,918 Dunkley June 18, 1912 1,298,488 Foote Mar. 25, 1919 1,409,802 Urschel Mar. 14, 1922 1,719,913 Triplett July 9, 1929 1,876,051 Gardner Sept. 6, 1932 2,048,470 Sanborn July 21, 1936 2,238,970 Carroll Apr. 22, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 446,505 France Dec. 7, 1912 

